At a glance

Your chance to

At a glance

7 nights at 3 star hotels, 1 night basic camping

Explore the 'Lost City' of Petra, camp in the desert and float in the Dead Sea

Jordan, with its spectacular desert scenery, archaeological treasures and Dead and Red seas, is an ideal destination for a short but varied trip. Petra is indisputably one of the world's most amazing sites. Hidden for centuries, it wasn't until a Swiss explorer 'discovered' it in 1812 that the 'Lost City' finally became known to the western world. Wadi Rum is a stunning desert-scape and we spend a night camping out here under the stars. A trip to Jordan would not be complete without a soak in the salty waters of the Dead Sea and a chance to swim or snorkel over the coral of the Red Sea.

Itinerary

Show detailed itinerary

1Day 1Start Amman.

Start Amman. Those not travelling with the group from London will join us in the Amman hotel in the evening.See more images and videos

2Day 2Drive to the Dead Sea and float in the salty water; explore Madaba's mosaics.

There is free time to relax this morning before heading south to the Dead Sea for a 'float' in the thick saline waters. We then head to Madaba where we spend the afternoon. Known as 'The City of Mosaics', Madaba is best known for its spectacular 6th century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land.We will stop at Mt Nebo on the way, believed to be the spot where Moses was shown the 'promised land'. We return to our hotel in Amman for the evening.

3Day 3To Petra via the castle at Kerak along the dramatic King's Highway.

Today we have a spectacular drive down the King's Highway, which winds its way up and down many 'wadis' (valleys). We stop en route at Kerak, a castle that was hugely important in Crusader times. We then head south to reach Jordan's premier historical site and one of the world's most outstanding ancient cities; Petra.See more images and videos

4Day 4Full day to explore the incredible 'rose red city' of Petra.

The whole day is spent at Petra, the 'Rose-red city, half as old as time', which was hidden for centuries until the Swiss explorer Burkhardt made his great discovery in 1812. Petra was founded by the Nabateans, an Arab tribe which arrived here in the 6th century BC and is an incredible site to explore. Building at Petra began in the 3rd century BC and continued through the Roman period, financed by taxes levied on the desert caravans. Two features of Petra are unique: firstly, it is a city made defensible by being built down a series of chasms, rather than on a hilltop. Secondly, it is built directly into the rock - beautiful red and yellow sandstone carved into the most impressive facades which glow in the brilliant sunlight.
To enter mystical Petra we must begin by walking down the Siq, the narrow chasm providing the only entrance to the city, and come out directly in front of iconic El Khazneh, the Treasury. Please note that although we suggest you walk to the Siq, the short journey on horseback is included in your Petra entrance ticket. However, we do not recommend this as we cannot guarantee safety and you will be expected to tip the horse handler; please speak to your leader about this in advance. Continuing to the centre of the city, we pass the houses and tombs of the rich citizens and the amphitheatre. A long walk beyond the centre is El Deir, the Monastery, with its superb façade topped by a huge urn (the walk up is by a series of steps). You will have an informative guided tour providing background and historical information about this incredible site and some time for independent exploration.See more images and videos

We now join the modern desert highway and make our way to Wadi Rum, a stretch of beautiful sand and rock desert. This is where Lawrence of Arabia and Prince Faisal assembled the Arab tribes for the attack on Aqaba in the First World War and also where sections of the film of 'Lawrence of Arabia' were shot. We take a 4x4 excursion to explore the protected desert area before returning to our private camp, located near the small village of Disseh, where we enjoy traditional Bedouin hospitality and may have the chance to sleep out under the stars.

Beyond Wadi Rum, the road drops sharply through dramatic scenery to Aqaba, Jordan's port and holiday resort, famous for some of the most beautiful coral reefs to be found anywhere in the world. Over the next two days we have time to lounge on the beach, swim, go snorkelling around the coral or relax by the pool in the hotel. There are several good restaurants in Aqaba for evening meals too. Your leader will be able to advise you on which are the best private beaches to visit as the public beaches generally do not have as many facilities.See more images and videos

8Day 8Return to Amman; optional afternoon tour to Roman site of Jerash.

Today we drive back to Amman. It is a fairly long drive, but for those with enough energy it is possible to take a taxi from Amman to explore Jerash, one of the ten wealthy, self-governing cities of the Decapolis or visit the Bethany-Beyond the Jordan, where Jesus was said to have been baptized.

Your images

Family group

Family group holidays that you and your family can enjoy together. These trips are active, adventurous and provide the perfect blend of exploration and sociability.

Activity level

You are healthy, enjoy the outdoors and want a relaxing trip. No experience is required.

What's included

What's included

All breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

All accommodation (see below)

All transport and listed activities

Tour leader throughout

Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

Arrival & departure transfers

What's not included

Travel insurance

Single accommodation (available on request) GBP100 7 nights only

Visas or vaccinations

Accommodation details

Hotels & Camping

You will spend 7 nights in 3-star hotels with en suite rooms and 1 night in a Wadi Rum desert camp. The private camp has running water and a plumbed WC. It will be for the use of your group only and offers an experience you will not forget.

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
Visas are required by most nationalities, including British. Visas can be obtained at the border or Amman airport for JOD40 (approx.GBP40). If you are travelling with the group on a return flight to London the visa for Jordan will be obtained on a group basis and is provided free of charge - please note that this only applies if the group on the group flight is 5 or more. If the group flight is less than 5 or you are arriving or departing independently, you will need to obtain your own Jordanian visa.
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid. Holiday style

There are a few things that we advise you take into consideration before booking onto this trip. The night in the Wadi Rum will be spent in a private camp with a fixed and chemical toilet and a shower. Mattresses, blankets, pillows and towels are all provided. Although quite basic, a night in the desert is exciting and memorable and should be approached with a sense of adventure.
The food in Jordan can be a little spicy and uses flavours that children may not be used to. Please bear this in mind when ordering in restaurants. It is possible to find food that avoids this but the meals may be monotonous.
Some of the days on this trip can be long, especially the drive from Madaba to Petra. The leader will try and break the drive up as much as possible.
It can be hot in Jordan, please ensure that your children are well protected from the sun. During the winter months warm clothes will be needed.
We strongly recommend that you read the information on pages 6 and 86-89 of the Families brochure before booking this holiday. Alternatively go to http://www.exodus.co.uk/families/are-you-family

Eating & drinking

Whilst staying in hotels breakfast is included in the tour cost as are lunch and an evening meal in Wadi Rum.
No other meals are included. Whilst staying in hotels we usually eat in local restaurants and on some occasions the leader will take those who wish to a restaurant for a 'mezze' style meal. These allow fast service with a variety of good quality food for the group and usually cost JOD10-15 pp. Allow about GBP200-250 (approx. . USD320-400) to cover these meals (obviously this will be less for children). If you are vegetarian, please note that main meals are limited in choice; however, mezze is almost always available in restaurants and is a good, filling choice. There is also a good choice of seafood available when at the Red Sea.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want
to know about this trip, including detailed itinerary and full kit list.

Weather & seasonality

Spring and autumn are very popular as it is cooler, at around 24degC in the day and down to 8degC at night. Rain is more likely, but protracted bad weather is unlikely.

Summer in Jordan is hot and dry, but not unpleasant. Daytime maximum temperatures are around 32degC in Amman. Aqaba is very hot when the air is still, but there is usually a breeze. Rain is unusual but possible.

In winter it is generally crisp and warm in the day, approx. 10-15degC, however, temperatures can approach freezing or below at night in the desert. There are even occasions when it snows in Jordan during winter.

The first figure is the average number of wet days in a given month and the second and third figures are minimum and maximum average temperatures in (degC) in Amman

Reviews & community

Amazing to think that floating in the Dead Sea didn't make it in to our top 3 activities for the week. It was trumped by 1. Sleeping under the stars by a camp fire in Wadi Rum, 2. Snorkelling in the life size fish tank that is the Red Sea and 3. Petra by candle light - magical.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Experiencing sleeping outdoors under the shadow of the towering rock faces of Wadi Rum and being able to clearly see all the stars, including the Milky Way next to the warmth of the camp fire. And then wake up for a camel ride. And to be able to able to share this exparience with your children.

What did you think of your group leader?

Ala was a good and informative leader who seemed to know everyone, everywhere. Most things ran smoothly and when they didn't Ala was able to rustle something up. His knowledge of the sites and history was excellent but he didn't always participte in all of the activities with the group.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Jordan wasn't particularly cheap and eating out (except some places in Aqaba) was quite pricey. There is quite a bit of travelling and a couple of packs of cards were essential. Ipods were also a god send - especially as a couple of the hotels had free wi-fi.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

What was refreshing was the ability to see fabulous historic sites and for there to be few health and safety restrictions/signs. This allowed the kids to run free and explore castles, Petra and the cliffs of Wadi Rum. The kids absolutely loved the freedom and this allowed the parents to discover things at their own pace and take the time to hear about the history without impatient kids. Our group ranged from children aged 7-14 and the activities allowed them to mix well and discover what being a kid used to be like - learning from playing outdoors.

Questions about your trip

Are there any excursions I shouldn't miss?

It is great to go on a glass bottom boat ride when you are in Aqaba and the sea life is magnificent. You will have a chance to snorkel and see all the colourful fish for only 15JD!

Chloe Knott - Product Manager

Jordan articles

Staff member Rebecca Caldicott travelled with Exodus to Jordan and you can read her article to get a personal viewpoint of the country and its highlights.

Is a sleeping bag really necessary for one night's camping in Jordan?

Yes, if you want a decent night sleep! Its gets cool in the desert and in winter, nights can be quite cold. The only other option might be a scratchy berber blanket, and we can't always guarantee availability or cleanliness of these ! You won't be carrying the bag around and can leave it on the bus the whole time until needed. You're near a permanent Bedouin camp (and fire) and since you set your tents up on soft sand, it's comfortable. Bring a head torch for going to the toilet during the night.

Rebecca Caldicott - Customer Operations

What is the food and water situation in Jordan?

Middle Eastern food is delicious and you're in for a treat! Kebabs and grilled meat are ubiquitous and plentiful. Local salads are fantastically fresh, with lots of flavour. Fresh bread is provided with most meals, along with lots of nut/bean based dips and humous. Drinking water, in the form of cheap bottled water, is on sale everywhere. Enjoy!

Kai Aylward - Sales

Is it easy to get a Jordanian visa on arrival?

If you are on the group flights, and the group is 5 or more, then it is obtained free of charge. When the group arrive in Amman, a local representative will meet you before immigration and take you though the process. The tour leader will then meet you on the other side, once you are through. If you are not on the group flights, and are a British passport holder, it is still quite straightforward. The cost is approx 10JD (Jordanian Dinar).

Alessandra Van Dyk - Customer Operations

What type of clothing is most suitable for Jordan?

Jordan is fairly relaxed compared to other Middle Eastern countries and in the main tourist areas such as Petra there are no real clothing restrictions (within reason!). In the smaller villages it is advised for women particularly to be more conservative in their clothing.

Chloe Knott - Product Manager

Any good shopping tips for Jordan?

In terms of shopping, there's lots of small souvenirs you can buy in most towns on the itinerary, but most people on my trip ended up with shisha pipes!

Kai Aylward - Sales

Will Ramadan affect my trip?

Please note that the holy month of Ramadan will take place during specific dates each year, the actual dates will be listed in the respective Trip Notes. This is a time when followers of Islam do not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. This can sometimes affect the opening hours of certain tourist sites. However we will ensure that that the itinerary is affected as little as possible if you travel during this period. Food and drink is available to tourists during the day.

Brendan Phelan - Customer Operations

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